Opaque colour,with a reddish tinge, white bubby head. Fruity aromas, this is a flanders red that is clearly cherry and is balanced as a wine would be. Very lacey sheets. The carbonation i right there. Very drinkable. A bit of apple cider vinger that makes it even more cherryish.

Well, here I am with my 900th review on BA. Shame I'm over the other side of the world to my regular beer-drinking buddies @LaitueGonflable and @tobeerornottobe, who shared my 800th review with me. I'm sure I'll enjoy it in their honour.

Bottle purchased for a reasonably steep price for the USA, from Healthy Spirits in San Francisco. 750ml, corked, caged and foil capped, although the cork pops with minimal effort given that it has no depth to it whatsoever.

Pours a very pleasant and very genuine red colour, deep but supple, like a light pinot noir. Head is persistent, but filmy, a slight off-white cream sitting atop the beer and leaving a slightly amorphous lacing as the beer is drunk. Light body with some fairly decent carbonation. Looks very decent.

Nose is very similar to their Grand Cru. Big notes of maraschino, funk, oak barrels and a slight grappa bite. Fumbling notes of kriek as well. It's that classically unique Flanders Red Ale aroma, suggesting big astringent acidity to come on the palate, but with a huge depth to everything as well. Lovely beer.

Taste is... excellent. At first, I was slightly taken aback by the lack of the truly cutting acidity, but this is like mellowing the characters of a great Red Ale, refining them, polishing them and making them into an artisanal item. Absolutely lovely blend of slightly tart acidity, cherry sweetness, rounded Belgian yeast and a pleasant lingering astringency. Palate is extremely long, and benevolently complex, leaving layer after layer of exceptional characters. Dusty and tart on the back, sweet and luscious on the front.

Feel is clear and light, but lending enough body to extend the palate for a long time. It allows it to express the flavours on the palate beautifully, while remaining light enough to accentuate the subtle acidity.

This is a truly remarkable and truly excellent beer. It is the more polished and refined version of their Grand Cru. Everything is just integrated perfectly into this subtle and seductive whole, giving an all-round beer experience which is exquisite.

750 ml bottle poured into a tulip glass. Courtesy of ahurd in a BIF. Thanks!

Appearance- Murky brown color. No head, with just a hint of extremely fine bubbles rising to the top.

Aroma- Sour, tart, with a bit of booziness. Subtle hint of dark cherries.

Taste- Sweet and tart but not overly so. If you work it around in your mouth it gets quite tart, otherwise goes down smoothly. A hint of cherries, strawberries, and figs. Blended quite well and is very refreshing

Mouthfeel- Sticky, but not overbearing. Just enough to let the flavors linger in your mouth well after you swallow.

of all the rodebach i've had this was surprisingly not anything more exclusive in quality. Its was good but not something i was seek out and at the price compared to the regular stuff a waste of time. I would still say that it is a good flemish red though. Proper look. And particularly on the tart side as they tend to be. This although didn't have the dimension of a finish one could hope for. Its tart and then just subtle floral notes. The cherry is there but it isn't as broad of a malty finish as others. Rodebachs i mean. Very bright. Very lean. Balsamic. Ready for fish, goat based cheeses, and greens.

S-notes of tart cherries, touch of acetic acid with a light alcohol spice.

T-the flavor has sweet and tart ripe cherries with a strong acidity and a good sour finish. fruity, acidic, and sour blended well together.

M-grainy palate, crisp dry finish with assertive carbonation.

D-this has a nice ripe sweetness that is balanced nicely with a strong acidic presence and nice sour puckering finish. it is extremely easy to drink and very inviting albeit straight forward and simple.

Poured into a tulip.
Dark ruby color, clear, with a two finger, reasonably long lasting light tan head.
Aroma is lightly tart, fruity.
Medium bodied, very refreshing, but just like the aroma, light tart and acidic.
The aging, at least compared to original versions of Rodenbach Grand Cru took away some of the lively carbonation, and mellowed the flavors quite a bit. It is easy to drink, pleasant and tasty, but it lacks that bite, that more intense sourness that attracted me to the original in the first place.
Not bad at all, but worse and more expensive than the original.

A- Muddled red with brown stains in between and a loose off white cap on top that left no lacing.

S- This one has quite a nose full of oak, dark fruit, vinegar, vanilla (slight) Apples. Somewhere in between red and the grand cru. Since only a single batch was used and not blended with young and old, I can see where it comes from. Im not overpowered by sweetness which I dig.

T- Tart and tasty, This is some good Rodenbach. Im greeted with a blast of tart apple (granny smith) pear, wood with underlining vanilla, going into vinegar but not to much finishing off with a tart and vinious finish. Some spices on the outset as well.

M- No alcohol, low vinegar and not so much sweetness, big time taste. Feel is about medium and does not finish incredibly dry. The taste sticks in the mouth for a few, it does not die off. This is carbed up well off the tap.

D- The alcohol is a bit higher than the other versions but I would be good for about two or three glasses of this. The more and more versions of Rodenbach I have, the more I find the Grand Cru to be my least favorite of the bunch. This is great stuff, would love to lay a bottle down for two years and see where it goes.

T- opens up with a sour tart cherry, red wine and apple cider vinegar. Sweetness brings in more cherries but the pie filling type. The oak is not as present as some of the others in the line at first but as the beer opens up a bit the funky oak start to emerge. Long tart finish.

M- a bit less then medium in body with a bright and active carb. Big time juicy pucker that lasts forever.

D- this is a really good beer. The oak is a bit subdued other then the huge sourness. Its funky and tart with a simpleness that keeps you coming back for more.

Poured a dark brown with ruby highlights that had a finger of bubbly head and left lots of frothy lacing sticking to the glass. The aroma is signature rodenbach consistng of vinegar and oaky notes but this was big on cherries, slight lemon, and apples. The flavor was also similar to the nose and kinda reminded me of a grand cru but with more flavor. The cherries, apple, and lemon really help out the fruitiness and was nicely balance by the vinegar and oaky accents; fabulous flanders. The brew was medium body with a good amount of prickly carbonation which had a sweet, sour, ans silky finish. It drank really good and I'm hoping to land another bottle for the cellar; good stuff.

A: Pours a deep ruby with a brownish hue, capped by a finger and a half of frothy eggshell-colored head. Retention is moderate as it settles down to approximately a half finger and holds steady there.

S: Lots of dark, tart cherries with a light sweet component, balanced by a counterpoint of vanilla from the oak. Some lemon zest and light green apples are in the background along with vinegar notes.

T: An initial burst of lactic sourness is tempered by oaky, vanilla-centric sweetness that has a creamy aspect to it - both in feel and taste. Tart cherries come in on the mid-palate along with a strong fruit burst that includes lemon zest, berries, and pears. Finish is fruit-forward with some light spices and a touch of oak.

M: Medium bodied with lively carbonation, glides across the tongue with more smoothness than most highly carbonated beers.

D: The tartness is balanced by a strong sweetness, but that never become cloying. Immensely drinkable.

Lots of creamy oak, cherry and fig on the tongue. Light vanilla with some sour and somewhat acidic vinegar notes. A smoother and more refined version of the Grand Cru. Quite tasty.

Mouthfeel is smooth with some acidity. Almost creamy. Small, sharp carbonation. Very smooth for the style. Barrel 230 has done good things to this beer.

Very drinkable for the style. Lots of good flavor and the body is excellent. Maybe not as complex as the Grand Cru, but a more well balanced beer. Rodenbach seems to own this style. This was really a tasty treat and thanks to sleepydave for bringing it over. I should really try to get another for the cellar and seek out the Alexander Rodenbach. Highly recommended.

A: The beer poured brownish red in color and is fairly clear with lacy patterns of bubbles floating on the surface. A light amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There is a moderate aroma of cherries and oak in the nose.
T: Like the nose, there are tart flavors of cherries in the taste, which is also balanced by a mild vinegar-like sourness. Flavors of oak linger in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate. There is a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is very easy to drink because of its good balance between the sweet and sour flavors.

Wild notes from the oak, dark cherry, faint citrus, and a little cider vinegar in the nose. Some malt and even cocoa comes through as well - very inviting.

While there is plenty of tartness and acidity in the profile (smooth lightly oxidative notes - akin to a fine aged balsamic), this is maybe the sweetest offering I've sampled thus far from Rodenbach. Marshmallow/vanilla along with heavy cream and a touch of whole-milk yogurt; lightly toasted malt, English digestive biscuits, and a mix of berries and stone fruit synergize on the palate. The finish is delicate, gently spicy, with a whisper of sherried single malt - sophisticated and mellow.

Medium-bodied, soft, effervescent, and mildly astringent.

Not quite as addictively sweet/sour as the Grand Cru, though similar in many ways - still, a wonderful example of the style.

Foeder 230; Sampled June 2010
A vigorous pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a dense, long lasting, light amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a deep plum color that shows a brilliantly clear, ruby red color when held up to the light. The aroma reminds me of a tart, fruity red wine, at least from a distance as I visually inspect the beer. A clean acetic acid note, without the sharp spiciness that sometimes accompanies this acid, is just about the dominant note here. It is anchored by a fruitiness that reminds me of concentrated apples, cherries and the afore-mentioned red grapes (along with some berry-esque aromatics). Oak aromatics add some woody aromatics, a spiciness to the finish (that is faintly reminiscent of a barrel aged spirit). A long draft of the aroma yields some toasted malt aromas that reminds me of browned bread crust and whole grain crackers, this couples in the long finish with a bright, though soft cherry-like note.

Lightly sweet tasting up front and this sweetness remains through to the finish; the beer is perhaps a little sweeter than I was expecting, though it is not entirely unexpected. The sourness is quite light for something designated as a special vintage (at least with the direction I would have gone if I was the brewer) and in fact doesn't wholly balance the sweetness. While this is a bit sweet, it is definitely only lightly so in the grand scheme of things. The sweetness, coupled with the light acetic notes, brings out some cherry-like fruitiness in the flavor as well as a general berry like character; when coupled with the oak it reminds me a little bit of a super-fruity red wine. Speaking of oak, this is actually a lot lighter in the flavor than it is in the aroma, which also perhaps makes the light sweetness more noticeable. The oak contributes light flavors of fresh cut planks, subtly peppery spiciness, perhaps a suggestion of vanillin as well as some tannic astringency and textural interest. The body of this beer is light enough to be quaffable beyond what the 7% abv would suggest, but does have some viscous body to it. As the beer warms a toasty malt character comes out towards the finish and there is also an underlying caramelized malt character that is a large part of the perceived sweetness.

My second pour of this sees me noticing a touch of musty funkiness in the aroma and perhaps a touch of ripe cheese character, but these are quite subtle and the flavor doesn't' really change much (given that this is brilliantly clear down to the bottom of the bottle this isn't much of a surprise).

This is a touch more simplistic than I might prefer, but it is still a fantastically tasty beer that I am quite happy to be drinking a 750ml bottle of. Very clean, perhaps a bit too "filtered", but still this is quite enjoyable; the filtering perhaps even adds to the refined effect that this beer achieves (even if I prefer a bit more rusticity). The aroma promises a bit more than the flavor delivers, but in the end the intangibles bring this to a higher level than the individual components seem to warrant.

Poured at a recent BA tasting event thanks to hannot. Pours a clear copper with no head to speak of. Nose is scotch, leather, tannins, and peach. Taste is more of the same adding tangerine, vinegar, and butterscotch. Reminds me of mead. Coats the mouth but finishes pretty dry, very lite.

A gentle pour results in a wispy skim across the surface, that looks like a smudge of cirrus clouds. Some spotty bits of lace randomly dot the sides of the glass. Decent retention. The body is a lighter shade of brown, that glints ruby in the sunlight. Clarity is ok, you can see the underside of the surface bubbles through the glass.

Tannic and fruity, notes of apple butter, cherry skins, tart grapes, with a lingering taste of oak and vague maltiness. Tart and acetic, though rather mellow and well integrated. Definitely more mellow than the Grand Cru, and more savory. Full and rich despite the lower levels of carbonation. I could easily put away a 750 of this with ease... one to be savored.

T - The taste is a little understated, and lacks some of the complexity and 'pop' found in the nose. The flavor is also sweeter, with some of the malt character of the base beer emerging as it warms. I don't think any of the 'young' Rodenbach is blended here, which might explain the smoothed out flavors.

D - This was quite easy to drink, as it was well-balanced in the tart and sour domains. The only real impediment is the increasing difficulty in finding more bottles out there. Maybe we'll see another single cask release. A nice surprise that I'm glad I got to try.

It's bolder than the Grand Cru, with a sharp, aggressive nose. Significantly darker in color. The first whiff is bracing, with notes of sweet sherry vinegar, leather, and deep, soft oak. Flavors of sour cherry, vanilla, and old wood play off each other beautifully, a testament to the quality of the blend. The body is vinous and tannic, with a surprisingly soft and rounded finish.

Bottle: Poured a hazy brown reddish color ale with a medium size foamy head with average retention and some lacing. Aroma of oak is well balance by sweet cherries and tart notes. Taste is actually lighter then the Grand Cru with more notes of cherry and a sweeter profile. Oak notes are easily distinguishable with the tart notes also quite enjoyable. Body is about average with good carbonation and alcohol is well hidden. Very well made and not much to be improved.

The prestigious 2007 vintage didn't make its way to SoCal, so....I bought a few bottles when I was in Santa Cruz back in February. Let's pop one of the bottles now. On to the beer:

Dark, dark red, or reddish brown depending on where the light hits the beer. The head settles to a creamy lace on top. Very sharp acidity in the nose. Sour cherry skins and sharp tartness are noted. It's a little sweet as well; carmel comes to mind.

Sweeter in the mouth than in the nose. The tartness is really mellow, allowing for sweet, succulent cherries to come through. As time goes on, the beer becomes more tart and acidic on the palate. I'm really enjoying this. Alcohol is hidden, lightly carbonated, goes down easy...yum.

I'll keep this short, it's great. Like Rodenbach Grand Cru, but a little more tart. I paired a bottle of this while watching "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium"; I'd say it paired well with the movie.

The beer pours a muddy dark brown with at least three fingers of light tan head. The retention is great, lasting several minutes. The head is very creamy, great lacing.

The aroma is on the lighter side, but it gives off a balanced complexity. It has the familiar grand cru notes of really nice aged vinegar however they are much more sublte here. It also has some nice sweet notes with an nice oaky finish.

The taste is just like the aroma, super balanced. It has what I love about the grand cru, super sweet and vinegar but it is mellowed out by a slight oaky finish.

The feel is great, full bodied with light, a dry smooth finish.

Super easy to drink.

Ovearll, this was just excellent. Grand Cru is one of my favorite all time beers, and while it does not match it, it comes very close. This is like a cousin to the grand cru, giving you what you like about it, but with a twist.

Looks reddish brown with a thin white creamy head. Smells of sour cherries, worscestershire sauce, vanilla, and honey. Daddy like! Taste follows suit, with cherries and slight worcestershire, cranberry juice, and a definite oak note. Very very balanced, very good blending of flavors. Mouthfeel is slick and surprisingly carbonated. Drinkability is great. This bottle will go down easy. Expensive, hard to find, and worth it. The best kind of beer, in a way :)

Kind of a muddy reddish-brown color. A little strong on the malt vinegar in the nose but black cherry brings it back a little, sweet smell. Soft and vinegary on the tongue with mild acidity, it could use more to stray away for its sweet nature. Very intresting beer, but for the money, I'll stick with the Grand Cru.